Is Google AI Ultra Worth $250/Month?

At its big I/O 2025 conference, Google showed off its latest AI tools. They also announced two main ways for people to use them: Google AI Pro and a brand-new, top-level plan called Google AI Ultra.

The main question on everyone's mind is about the price. Google AI Pro costs $19.99 a month.

But Google AI Ultra comes with a much higher price tag: $249.99 a month! Google calls AI Ultra a "VIP pass to Google AI." So, is this VIP pass worth spending so much extra money?

This article will explain what you get with each plan and who each plan is best for. We'll help you figure out if you should stick with Google AI Pro or if the fancy features in Google AI Ultra are worth the big price jump for what you need.

What is Google AI Pro?

First, let's look at Google AI Pro. This isn't entirely new; it's mostly a new name for what Google used to call its "Google One AI Premium" plan or "Gemini Advanced."

Price: Google AI Pro still costs $19.99 per month.

What You Get with AI Pro:

• Gemini App: You get access to Google's main AI chat app, powered by the smart Gemini 2.5 Pro model.
• Deep Research: The Gemini app will let you do more in-depth research with higher limits.
• AI Video Making (Veo 2): You can use Google's Veo 2 model to create videos from text. You'll also get a limited trial of the even more advanced Veo 3.
• Flow (AI Film Tool): You get access to Flow, a tool that uses Veo 2 to help you create movie-like scenes. For example, you might be able to make about 100 video clips a month with this.
• Whisk (Animate Your Images): Whisk is a tool that uses Veo 2 to turn your still pictures into short, animated videos.
• NotebookLM: This AI tool helps you study, do research, and manage your projects.
• Gemini in Google Workspace: You can use Gemini's AI help directly inside Google apps like Gmail, Docs, and Vids.
• Gemini in Chrome Browser: Users in the US will get early access to use Gemini AI features right in the Chrome browser.
• Cloud Storage: You get 2 TB (terabytes) of online storage with your Google One plan. You can use this across Google Photos, Google Drive, and Gmail.
• Other Google One Perks: You also get the standard benefits that come with a Google One membership.

Who is AI Pro For?

• Students: Google offers free access to AI Pro for university students in some countries like the US, Japan, Brazil, Indonesia, and the UK.
• Professionals and Everyday Users: If you want to use AI to be more productive or try out some advanced AI tools without spending a lot, AI Pro is a good choice.
• Creative Dabblers: If you want to play around with AI filmmaking or animate images but don't need the absolute highest quality or unlimited use right away, AI Pro offers a good starting point.

What is Google AI Ultra? "The $250 "VIP Pass"

AI Pro vs AI Ultra

Google AI Ultra is for people who want the very best and most powerful AI experience Google offers.

Price: AI Ultra costs $249.99 per month in the US. If you're a new subscriber, Google offers a 50% discount for the first three months. Google plans to make AI Ultra available in other countries soon.

What You Get with AI Ultra (Everything in AI Pro, PLUS These Extras):

• Top-Level Gemini Access & Highest Limits:
  • You get the best version of the Gemini app with the highest usage limits for all its tools. This means you can use the AI more without hitting a cap.
  • You'll get access to Gemini 2.5 Pro Deep Think mode (coming soon). This is a special mode for tackling very complex math, coding, and thinking tasks.
  • You get early access to Veo 3 (Google's most advanced video model) for making videos right in the Gemini app.
• Flow:
  • With AI Ultra, Flow uses Veo 3 to create the highest quality videos (1080p). It can also generate sound for your videos and gives you advanced camera controls.
• Whisk:
  • You get the highest usage limits for Whisk Animate, which uses Veo 2 to turn images into videos.
• NotebookLM:
  • You get the highest usage limits and access to the "best model capabilities" in NotebookLM (this is coming later in the year).
• Project Mariner (Experimental AI Agent):
  • AI Ultra subscribers get to try Project Mariner. This is a research prototype AI that can manage up to 10 different tasks at the same time, like doing research, booking appointments, making purchases, or managing schedules, all from one dashboard.
    
    It includes an "Agent Mode" that can browse the internet and work with other apps.
• Massive Cloud Storage: You get a huge 30 TB of cloud storage. (If you bought 30TB of storage separately from Google, it would cost about $149.99 a month).
• YouTube Premium: Your AI Ultra subscription also includes an individual YouTube Premium subscription (which usually costs around $14 a month). This means ad-free YouTube and other perks.
• Who is AI Ultra For?
  • Creative Professionals: People like filmmakers and video content creators who need top-quality AI video tools (like Veo 3 in Flow) and high usage limits will find AI Ultra useful.
  • Developers and Researchers: If you need the most advanced AI for complex thinking (Deep Think), deep research (NotebookLM with high limits), or want to experiment with AI agents (Project Mariner), AI Ultra is designed for you.
  • Power Users and "Trailblazers": If you always want the latest and greatest AI from Google, need the highest limits, and are willing to pay a premium price, AI Ultra is for you. Google Vice President, Josh Woodward, described AI Ultra users as "pioneers."
  • Heavy AI Workers: If your work involves a lot of coding, creating media, or academic research using AI, AI Ultra might be necessary.
  • Those Who Need the Extras: If you can also make good use of the massive 30TB of storage and the included YouTube Premium subscription, the overall value of AI Ultra looks better.

AI Pro vs. AI Ultra: A Quick Comparison

Let's put the two plans side-by-side:

Should YOU Upgrade to AI Ultra? Ask Yourself These Questions:

To decide if AI Ultra is right for you, think about these points:

1. Are you a professional filmmaker, video creator, or developer? Do you absolutely need the best AI video tools (like Veo 3) or advanced thinking modes (like Deep Think)? Will you constantly hit usage limits on cheaper plans?
   • If yes, AI Ultra's advanced tools could be a game-changer for your work.
2. Do you do a lot of complex research or coding? Would the highest limits in NotebookLM and Gemini 2.5 Pro with Deep Think really help you?
   • If yes, these advanced capabilities might be worth the cost.
3. Are you excited about AI agents that can do many tasks for you at once (Project Mariner)?
   • If yes, AI Ultra is currently the only way to try this.
4. Do you really need a massive 30 TB of cloud storage?
   • This much storage is valuable if you have a genuine need for it (it costs a lot if you buy it separately from Google).
5. Do you already pay for YouTube Premium and a large Google One storage plan?
   • If these are costs you already have, the bundled value of AI Ultra might make it seem more affordable. One analysis suggested that if you don't need the top-tier AI features, just getting AI Pro plus YouTube Premium and separate large storage is cheaper than AI Ultra.
6. Do you use AI so much that you often hit usage limits on other AI services or the AI Pro plan?
   • AI Ultra promises the "highest limits," which could be very important if you do a lot of AI-heavy work.
7. Can you comfortably afford $250 every month for this service? Will it provide enough value for that price?
   • This is a premium price, similar to or even higher than top plans from other AI companies like OpenAI or Anthropic.
8. Are you mostly an "everyday user" or a student who just wants to use AI to be more productive?
   • If yes, Google AI Pro probably has all the features you need at a much lower price. As one person on Reddit said, they plan to stick with the $20 plan unless the performance of Gemini 2.5 Pro is held back on that plan.

Is AI Ultra "Worth It"?

Whether AI Ultra is "worth it" really depends on who you are and what you do:

• For Certain Professionals: YES, it could be.
  • Filmmakers who need Veo 3's high-quality video creation.
  • Developers and researchers who can use Deep Think and Project Mariner to push their work forward.
  • Super heavy AI users who constantly hit limits on other services and can also use the large storage and YouTube Premium.
• For the Average User or Someone Just Trying Out AI: Probably NOT.
  • AI Pro offers many great features, including the powerful Gemini 2.5 Pro AI and Veo 2 for video, for a much lower price.
  • Most people won't need the extreme usage limits or the very specialized features that AI Ultra offers.
• Thinking About the "Bundle Value": If you would otherwise pay for 30TB of storage (around $150/month) and YouTube Premium (around $14/month), then the "AI part" of the AI Ultra plan effectively costs you about $86 a month.
  
  If you need those extras anyway, this makes AI Ultra look more competitive with other high-end AI subscriptions.

Conclusion

Google AI Pro has gotten better and is still a strong choice for many people who want to use advanced AI.

Google AI Ultra is a big investment. It's clearly made for professionals and "trailblazers" who need the very best AI technology Google has, the highest usage limits, and can also use the extra premium services that come with it.

Our Recommendation:

• Start with Google AI Pro (or even the free version if you're just curious). If you're in the US, the 50% discount on AI Ultra for the first three months gives you a cheaper way to try it out if you're thinking about it.
• Think carefully about what you really need. Do you truly require advanced video making (Veo 3), super-complex thinking (Deep Think), AI agents (Project Mariner), and huge amounts of storage before you decide to pay for AI Ultra?
• Ask yourself if the features that only come with AI Ultra will truly give you a big return on your money or a major boost to your work or creative projects that AI Pro can't provide.

FAQs

Q1: What is Google AI Ultra?
A: Google AI Ultra is a premium subscription priced at $249.99/month, offering access to Google's most advanced AI tools, including Gemini 2.5 Pro, Veo 3, and the Flow video editing app.

Q2: What features are included in the AI Ultra plan?
A: Subscribers gain access to:

• Gemini 2.5 Pro with Deep Think mode for complex reasoning tasks.
• Veo 3 for advanced video generation.
• Flow, an AI-powered video editing tool.
• NotebookLM for enhanced research and writing assistance.
• 30 TB of cloud storage across Google services.
• YouTube Premium subscription.
• Early access to new AI features like Agent Mode and Project Mariner.

Q3: Who is the AI Ultra plan designed for?
A: The plan targets professionals, developers, and creatives who require high-capacity AI tools for tasks like coding, video production, and advanced research.

Q4: Are there any discounts available for new subscribers?
A: Yes, new users can avail a 50% discount for the first three months, reducing the monthly cost to $124.99 during this period.

Q5: How does AI Ultra compare to the AI Pro plan?
A: While AI Pro, at $19.99/month, offers access to Gemini 2.5 Pro and limited features of Veo 3 and Flow, AI Ultra provides the highest usage limits, full access to advanced tools, and additional perks like increased storage and exclusive features.

References

1. Google Announces AI Ultra Plan
2. Google AI Ultra Plan
3. Google AI Pro vs Ultra